Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on fame, pressure and World Cup fever

Five, six, seven, eight… America’s Sweethearts are back.

Season three of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DCC) docuseries has dropped on Netflix and this time the stakes – and kicks – are higher than ever.

The programme has turned the squad, who drum up support for the American football team, into celebrities in their own right thanks to its mix of viral moments and drama.

BBC Newsbeat caught up with breakout stars Kleine Powell and Megan McElaney to find out what the increased attention has meant for them.

The latest America’s Sweethearts picks up with the cheerleading squad after previous seasons have aired and shows them dealing with their new-found fame.

“It has been actually really insane,” says Powell, when Newsbeat asks about the show’s viral success.

“I think it’s had a really positive impact on not only the dance and athlete world, but just on the world in general with how we kind of integrate our lives into this dance and cheerleading show,” she says.

Earlier seasons of the show concentrated on the tough selection process to become a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader – a job that attracts young women from across the USA.

Viewers often see squad director Kelli Finglass give frank, sometimes harsh feedback to veterans and new recruits.

But, according to the coach, it hasn’t deterred hopefuls from applying, and this year was the first year the team’s considered tryouts from people who have seen America’s Sweethearts.

It’s no secret that exposure on the show can benefit individuals, opening up potential for influencer contracts and brand deals.

But, Powell says, new cheerleaders need to be coming in for the right reasons.

“That means people who want to be a friend and team-mate first versus going in and doing all these selfish things,” she says.

“We want people who can be friends and a sister and someone you can call on a bad day to help lift your spirits.”